Almost Time to Turn on Those Heaters in Mt. Pleasant, SC…Be Prepared!

October 13, 2019

It isn’t as if the colder weather snuck up on us; we are well into fall. It is just that with soaring temperatures into the 90s for months on end, it was easy to believe that it might not ever cool down. But the colder air is making its way to Charleston, and if you haven’t had time to maintain your heater, now is a perfect time. If you notice any of these signs when you do fire up the heat, then it is time to call for a repair immediately before a small problem turns into a significant one. Hiring a heating repair Mt. Pleasant, SC company to make sure things are good to go is an excellent idea!

Inspect the Pilot Light!

The first step to ensuring that your heater is working is making sure the pilot light is lit up. If your pilot light doesn’t light, then there will be no heat. It is that easy. Although the heater is run on gas, if the pilot light doesn’t supply a spark, the entire system will be on standby. Go to your manufacturer’s manual to make sure that you know how to check it, and if it isn’t working, troubleshoot what could be going on. If you can’t figure it out, make a call to have a professional take a look.

Do a Visual Inspection of the System

Sometimes all you have to do is look at something to spot signs of things being amiss. Check to ensure that all the wires are connected and that they look intact. Fraying wires might be a sign of pests getting into them, and it will make it unlikely that the unit will work properly. If the wires aren’t connected properly, then it can also lead to a fire. If you see anything lurking, make a call to have an electrician inspect it to prevent a house fire or any other hazard.

Your Heater Needs a Little TLC

It just takes a moment to wipe down your heating system to brush off the dust and debris. Remember, your system has been sitting for quite a long time collecting dirt. Use your vacuum with a nozzle to get those hard to reach places of dust accumulation, and clean all the dampers and vents to increase airflow. Now is also a great time to replace air filters, especially if they haven’t been changed in a while. Ideally, your air filters should be changed out every month or two to reduce allergens, increase airflow, and reduce wear and tear on your heating unit.

Investigate the Ducts

If your air ducts have any cracks or leaks in them, then you are heating areas that don’t need to be. Leaks will also reduce airflow and make your HVAC system work harder to push air, increasing wear and tear. If you notice any cracks, you can caulk the joints or wrap them. Make sure to use heat-graded foil tape to avoid a fire hazard. If you notice a significant amount of debris built up, then it might be time to have your ducts looked at and cleaned. And if there are parts of the ductwork you can’t get to, hire a professional to reach it. Otherwise, you might unwittingly be paying a whole lot more in energy costs than you need to!

Be Conscious of Sights and Sounds

While running, if you hear any strange noises coming from your HVAC system, don’t ignore them. If you dismiss them and hope they will just go away, you might be making a small problem a significantly expensive one. Any sound that is outside of the ordinary should be evaluated immediately. And if you see any soot deposits or smoke coming from your heater, then it can be a sign of a cracked heat exchanger. A cracked heat exchanger can pose a serious health risk by leaking carbon monoxide, which is an odorless, colorless gas that can be fatal in high concentrations. Also, now is an excellent time to ensure that your CO and fire alarms are in working order by changing batteries and testing them manually.

Go Ahead and Fire it up!

Undoubtedly, the cooler weather is a welcomed temperature to many of us. So we aren’t all ready to hire the furnace up right away. But if you wait until the last minute, it might not be ready when you really need it. Turn on your heater and give it a test run. Run it at high for five to ten minutes to make sure that things are in working order.

If you haven’t had your heater serviced since last year, now is an excellent time. When the cold weather rushes in, you will want to make sure that it is ready to go. Don’t wait until the last minute, and have to fight for an emergency repair call. Or, don’t skip the necessary maintenance that will keep your unit working optimally and help to spot signs of trouble before they become super problematic.